Attachments for envelope making machines



A. NovlcK 2,890,631

AT TACHMENTS FOR ENvELoPE MAKING MACHINES.

Filed June 15, 1955 'a sheets-sheet i June 16, 1959 AMJ INVENTOR. v Abraham /Vo V/c/r A ToR/VEYJ June 16, 1959 A. NovlcK 2,890,631

ATTACHMENTS FOR ENVELOP MAKING MACHINES Filed June l5, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

Abraham Nay/'CK M, M #L @M7 June 1 6, 1959 A. N'ovlCK ATTACHMENTS FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES a sheets-.sham 3 l Filed June l5, 1955l INVENTOR: Abra/7am Nov/CK June 16, 1959 A, NOVlCK 2,890,631

ATTCHMENTS FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES File June 15, 1955 s sheets-sheet 4 y I EQ2-I 1 y y 'VH' EW i /l I? v ATTORNEYS June 16, 1959 A. Novl'cK ATTACHMENTS FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES Filed June 15, 1955 8 sheets-sheet 5 June 16, 1959 v A. NvlcK v 2,890,631

ATTACHMENTS .FORENVELOPE' MAKING MACHINES Filed June l5, 1955- 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 /N VEA/70k Abra/7am Nov/'c/r BY 22M grATfoR/vevs. 7

June 16, vA NOVlCK ATTACHMENTS FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES a Sheets-sheet 7 Filed June 15, 1955 /NE/vrbR Abraham' Nov/ck A. Novlc'K v ATTACHMENTS FOR ENvELoPE MAKING wxcmmas.v Filed June 15,` 1955 June 16 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 RQQN SSN KSN. A

INVEN TOR Abraham Nay/Ur Q ATTACHMENTS non ENvELoPE MAKING MACHINES Abraham Novick, Flushing, NX., assigner to F. L. smiths Machine Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application .lune 1.5, 1.9.55, Serial No. 515,611

16 Claims. (Cl. 93-62) This invention relates to blank preparing attachments for supplying blanks to envelope making machines. In accordance with common practice, die cut envelope blanks are fed from a stack into fanned out relation, gum is applied to the seal ap while the blanks are advanced slowly in fanned out relation, and then the blanks are individualized or separated and advancedto other apparatus to complete their manufacture into iinished envelopes by well known scoring, folding and pasting instrumentalities.

The mechanism briefly outlined above is widely used for the making of plain envelopes from shaped, or die cut blanks. In some instances, however, it is desirable to supply the machine with printed blanks, or with rhombic blanks as they are cut from a web. Devices for thus preparing the blanks for the action of the envelope making machine are herein referred to as blank preparing mechanisms or blank preparing attachments.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a blank preparing attachment which is equipped with means for arranging spaced out, prepared blanks into fanned out formation, and for feeding the so arranged blanks into the introductory end of a standard envelope making machine.

It is a further object to provide an attachment of the kind referred to in which the blank delivering means may be adjusted into an operative position where it will serve as a substitute for the usual stack feeder, or to an out-ofthe-way, inoperative position when the stack feeder is restored to serve in the machine. If the blanks operated upon are small the usual stack supporting and blank separating discs of the machine can simply be left in place without conflict. If, however, the blanks are large, the stack supporting discs must be moved up out of the way, and the sucker must be disabled. Alternatively, the stack supporting and blank separating means may be removed and replaced. Y

Other objects and advantages will hereinafterappear.

ln the drawing forming part of this specification:

Fig. l is a fragmentary View in side elevation' of a rhombic blank forming attachment in association with the introductory end of an envelope making machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale than Fig. l showing particularly the point at which the attachment ts into the envelope making machine, the collating mechanism for arranging the blanks into fanned out formation, and a bridge for delivering the blanks into the envelope making machine, which bridge can be adjusted between active and idle positions;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, largely diagrammatic, of the rhombic blank forming attachment;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, complementary to Fig. 4, which shows substantially the same parts of the attachment and machine as Fig. 3; K

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6A isa fragmentary detail view in front elevation States Patent lCC 2 showing details of construction and mounting of certain parts which are seen in side elevation in Fig. 6 but which are omitted from Fig. 7 in the interest of clarity;

Figs. 7 and 8 are complementary views, principally in plan, of the collating and bridging mechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view in sectional, side elevation, of printing mechanism and associated bridging mechanism which jointly form an illustrative printing attachment for the envelope machine.

The present invention is concerned particularly with means for enabling a blank preparing attachment which is adapted to act upon envelope blanks in spaced out relation, (l) to rearrange the blanks into fanned ont relation and deliver them so arranged to the introductory end of a rotary envelope machine for fan out gumming of the seal flap, or (2) to be rendered inactive and non-conflicting when it is desiredl to supply the rotary envelope machine from the usual stack feeder.

In Figs. l to 8 disclosure is made of a web fed attachment for making rhombic blanks, associated for optional use with a rotary envelope machine.

The blank forming mechanism is like that disclosed in my pending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 469,393, filed November 17, 1,954, for Mechanism for Cutting, Notching and Feeding Diamond Shaped Envelope Blanks. Reference may be had to said application for a complete disclosure of the illustrated blank forming mechanism. The complete blank forming mechanism l0 is diagrammatically indicated in plan in Fig. 4, while a fragmentary portion of the mechanism l0, including its frame 12, is shown in Fig. 1.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the web 14 is fed from` a reel (not shown) around a roller 16, along a fixed path past an angularly adjustable flying cutter unit 18, which unit severs successive rhombic blanks 20a, 20h, 20c, etc. from the leading end of the web. A blank feeding device 22 seizes each blank at the precise instant of its severance and advances the blank in the direction of web advance, but faster than the web, to an initial point of blank turning. At that point the device 22 relinquishes the blank and a cone turning unit 24 simultaneously seizesrthe blank and turns it through a prescribed angle, chosen in accordance with the shape of the blank to align the fore and aft blank diagonals precisely with a fixed central. feed Yline 26-26. .,1.

The cone turning unit relinquishes theblank upon completion of the required turning, and a feed device 28 simultaneously seizes the blank and starts it in a new direction of feeding along the line 26-26. The feeding of a blank is continued by successive pairs of constant speed segments Sil, 32 and 34. The blank is then brought to rest instantaneously by a variable speed pair of segments 36 for notching. During the instant when the blank stands at rest, notching mechanism (not shown) notches all four edges of the blank simultaneously (as seen in blank 20a). The blank is then accelerated to normal speed by the segments 36 and is advanced at normal, constant `speed by rollers 38 and rollers 40. Complementary rollers 42 are provided opposite the respective segment pairs and opposite the roller pairs 38, 40. The blanks pass between the rollers 40 and their complementary roller 42 at constant speed, the speed being suliciently high to maintain the blanks in spaced out relation.

As the -blanks travel beyond the rollers 40--42, they are rearranged into fanned out relation by collating mechanism, and the fanned out band is advanced at slow speed by an adjustable bridging mechanism 44. vThe collating mechanism is of the kind disclosed in my pend-- ing application for Letters PatentV of the United States, Serial No. 501,416 led .April 14, 1955 which issued as Patent No. 2,782,898 for'Collating Mechanism. Some additional features of novelty are, however, disclosed herein. The bridging mechanism 44 `constitutes in itself, and in combination with the blank preparing and envelope making mechanisms, -the principal novelty of the present invention. The icollating mechanism and the bridging meehanismwill be'described, but reference will first be made to the envelope making machine 46.

The machine 46 is acomplete envelope making machine `which -is adapted to take envelope blanks from a stack 48, arrange them into fanned out formation, gum the -seal aps by means of afan-out 'gummen dry the seal flap gum, individualize the blanks, score, paste and fold the blanks, and finally fold down the seal flap. Since this type of machine is well known, however, only the introductory end of the machine is shown herein.

The mechanism at the introductory end of the machine Y46 is desirably like -that,disclosed Vin United States Patent No. 1,808,706. In the normal-manufacture of unprinted envelopes fromfdiecut blanks, the stack 48 of die eut blanks is supported ',on 4apair of rotary separator discs 50 (Figs. 2 and 5). The discs 50 are fast upon upstandjng shafts 5.2. Auxiliary means Amay be provided as usual Vfor supporting the rear end of the stack. At the forward end the stack is supported by means of a pair of lingers 58 and 60. The upper finger 58 sustains the stack in a somewhat elevated position except for a small number of blanks which, due to the increased curvature incident upon the removal of the'blanks from the stack, drop below the rst mentioned finger 58 upon the second finger 60.

The feed of the blank Ais initiated by a sucker (not shown) which has a compound motion to and fro, as well as up and down. When the sucker has drawn the lowermost blank down a short distance, the suction is eut on" and the blank is engaged by .a pair of transfer or presser members `(not shown) which move the end of the blank down against conveyor belt 62. The conveyor belts run down drum `64 and upon guide rollers 66 and 68. All of the stack supporting and stack separating parts thus far referred to which would interfere with the feeding in of blanks from the mechanism onto the .belts 62 and the drum 64 can be readily removed from the machine and replaced at will. Alternatively, the separator discs may be adjusted to a higher than normal level, and the sucker Vmay be disabled. When dealing with small blanks supplied by the attachment the entire stack supporting, and blank separatingmeans may be left operatively in place without interference.

The presser members having conveyed the end of .the blank against the conveyor belt 62, or rather against the next underlyingblank on .the belt 62, traction of the blank directly `with the underlying blank, and indirectly with the belt 62 itself, is secured by means of a pair of roller members 70, carried on longitudinally reciprocating rods 72. The rods 72 are reciprocated in timed relation -with the action ofthe other parts, being .pulled out of the way of the leading end of a blank during detachment thereof from the stack, vand then thrust on top of the detached leading end of the blank.

From the belts 62 onward the machine is .maintained the same and acts the same whether blanks are being fed in from lthe stack 48 in fanned out relation subject only tothe usual adjustments for blanksof different sizes and shapes.

Belts 74, which runen guide rollers 76, oppose the belt 62 and assist in conveying the blanks in fanned out formation onto a cylinder 78. The .blanks are .held to the cylinder 78 'by belts 80 which run yon rollers .66 and '82. As the .blanks pass out Afrom under the .belt 80 they pass successively under feed rollers A84, and a fan out gommer 86 `by which seal flap gum is spread .on .the exposed trailing margins .of the ilining faces .of the seal ap ofthe blanks. After the gummer .86, v.the blanks vpass -beneath feed rollers 88 .and 9 0 .and .onto drying .conveyor 92. The manufacture of -the :blanks 'into finished .envelopes .is effected .by -well `known ,means `in a .well known .manner and since these means, do not, per se, form a part of the present invention, no further showing or description will be given.

When it is desired to feed the envelope making machine with diamond shaped blanks, the stack supporting and separating mechanism is removed and the bridge device 44, by which individual blanks are rearranged into fanner out relation and are so delivered onto the belt 62, is swung down into operative position as indicated in full lines in Fig. 6. When it is desired to feed the machine with die cut'blanks from the stack 48 the bridge device is swung up to the broken line position indicated at 44a in Fig. 6, and the stack supporting and operating mechanism is put back in place.

A shaft 96 (Fig. l), forming part of the envelope making machine, is driven at constant speed by the main drive shaft (not shown) of the machine and constitutes a common driving shaft for most of the mechanism illustrated herein. The parts which separati: blanks from the stack 48 are driven from the main shaft in timed relation with the other operating instrumentalities of the machine, to supply blanks at the rate of one per cycle.

The shaft 96 also has fast upon it a worm 98 which, through gears 100 and 102, drives a gear 104. The gear 104 is loose upon a shaft 106 (see Fig. 8 also). The gear 104 has unitary with it a sprocket 108, which, through a .chain 110, drives the sprocket 112 fast on a short transverse shaft 114. The shaft 114 is revolubly supported in a sleeve portion of a bracket 11S which is secured by screws 117 to the fixed frame 116 of the envelope making machine. The shaft `114 is adapted to be connected, when the bridge device 44 is put into operative position, to drive a conveyor 118 which forms par! of the bridge device 44. The shaft 106, which has the drum 64 fast upon it, is independently driven through suitable gearing from vthe main shaft of the envelope making machine.

The shaft y96 is also connected through bevel gears 120, 122, a sprocket 124, a chain 126 and a sprocket 128 to drive a shaft 130. The shaft 130 is connected throughgears 132, 134 and 136 to drive a gear 138. The gear 138, through -its supporting shaft, also drives sprockets 4144 through which the drier chains 92 are driven. The V.shaft l142, upon which the cylinder 'Z8 is made fast, is independently driven, by means not shown, from the main drive shaft ofthe envelope making machine.

The shaft has fast upon it a sprocket `146 which, through a chain 148, ,drives a clutch input sprocket 151) (Fig. l3). The sprocket 150 is revolubly supported on a shaft 152 between collars 154 and 156, both of which are fast on the shaft. A headed screw 158 has its shank threaded through the hub portion of the sprocket 150. The `screw 158 has a reduced end portion 160, which, as shown, is .projected into a bore 162 formed in the collar 156. When so projected, the screw establishes and maintains ,a positive driving connection from the sprocket to the shaft 152. The connection can be broken when desired, however, by backing the screw out suiciently to cause its reduced end to clear the collar .156.

The shaft 152 has fast upon it a .gear 164, through which `drive lis transmitted to all the operating Aparts of the web fed machine. A portion of the drive .gearing ofthe web fed machine is ,diagrammatically indicated in Fig. l. It is not .thought necessary to enumerate all the gears illustrated, but it -is noted that the gear 164 acts through -gears 166, 168, 170, 172 and 174 to drive .the shaft 176 `upon which the final feed rollers 40 of the web fed machine are made fast. The shaft 176 serves to drivel certain :mechanism lwhich forms part of the bridge device, as will be described and explained.

Bearing brackets 178 and 180 (iFigs. 6 Aand 7) affixed respectively t0 Qpposite side members 182 and 184 of the frame 12 provide pivotal support for the bridge device .44. fhe hearing bracket 178 rotatively supports a shaft 186, While the bearing bracket 180 iixedly supports a pivot pin 188 in axial alignment with the shaft 186. The bridging device 94- includes carrying bell cranks 190 and 192 which are pivoted respectively upon shaft 186 and the pivot pin 188. The rigid frame structure of the bridge device has capacity for limited pivotal adjustment relative to the bell cranks 190 and 192, but is normally made rigid and unitary with both of them.

The frame structure of the bridge device comprises supporting side brackets 194 and 196 which are pivotally supported on aligned bearing pins 198 from the bell crank members 190 and 192, respectively. The brackets 194 and 196 are rigidly connected at their lower ends by a cross bar 200 and at their upper ends by a cross bar 202. Side frame members 204 and '6 are rigidly secured to the cross bar 200. The frame members 204 and 206 are also rigidly cross-connected by a bar 208.

The frame members 204 and 206 provide bearing for a drive shaft 210 which has axed to it a drive pulley 212 for a broad, slow moving conveyor belt 214, also for a shaft 216 which supports idler pulley 218 upon which the opposite end of the belt 214 is carried. Intermediate idler rollers 220, carried by the frame members 204 and 206 support the upper or active stretch of the belt 214 between the pulleys 212 and 216. A tightener pulley 222 is carried beneath the idle stretch of the belt 214 by arms 224. The arms 224 are mounted with capacity for angular adjustment upon a bearing rod 226 which extends between the frame members 204 and 206, set screws 228 being provided for securing any desired adjusted relationship. A guide roller 230 runs upon the rod 228 and engages the upper face of the idle stretch of the belt.

Between the pulley 218 and the first intermediate roller 220 the active stretch of the belt 214 is supported by a rigid table section 232, the table section being mounted on a cross-bar 234 which is rigidly connected to the frame members 204 and 206. In advance of the introductory end of the conveyor, a table section 236 is supported, in coplanar relation with the active stretch of the conveyor belt, from the bar 200 through a bracket 238. Additional table sections 240 and 242 are carried by the frame members 204 and 206 respectively being mounted on outwardly extending arms 244 in coplanar relation with the active stretch of the conveyor. Still another table section 246 is provided on the crossbar 208 immediately following the delivery end of the conveyor. The table section 246 bridges the gap between the delivery end of the conveyor belt 214 and the belts 62 when the bridge device 44 is swung down into operative position.

A bar 250 is mounted over the middle of the conveyor, Ibeing disposed to extend in the direction in which the envelope blanks are fed by the conveyor. The bar 250 is afxed at one end to the cross-bar 202. It is further supported from the frame members 204 and 206 through a cross-bar 252. The bar 250 may be secured in xed position upon the bar 252 by any suitable means, such as a screw 254. The cross-bar 252 is fixed at its end to parallel supporting arms 256. The arms 256 lie outside the lateral bounds of the table sections 240, 242 and are fixed at their lower ends on stationary rods 258. The rods 258 extend outward from the frame members 204 and 206 into position to support the arms 256 as shown.

The longitudinal bar 250 is provided with downwardly extending arms 260 lwhich support, in xed position, a longitudinally extending guide bar 262. The bar 250 also carries a downwardly extending bracket 264 which pivotally supports an arm 266 upon which a hold-down roller 268 is rotatably mounted. The iirst hold-down roller 268 bears through the belt 214 against the table 232. Other hold-down rollers 268 are similarly mounted to oppose the idler rollers 220. The supporting means for the latter rollers 268 have not been illustrated because they are simply duplicates of the bracket 264 and the arm 266 which have been shown and described.-

When the bridge device 44 is in the operative position shown in Fig. 6, the drive shaft 210 of the conveyor is aligned with, and driven by, the previously described shaft 114 (Fig. 8) of the envelope making Ina-` chine. The shaft 114 has the sprocket 112 aihxed to one of its ends and a collar 270 affixed to the other, the collar 270 having a projecting end portion which is provided with a cross-slot, as shown. The shaft 210 comprises a iirst section 272 upon which a sleeve 274 is keyed. The sleeve is adapted to drive the shaft section 272 through the key, but can be adjusted axially of the section 272. The sleeve 274 has a bore large enough to receive the slotted end portion of the collar 270 loosely, and is provided with a cross-pin 276. When the shaft section 272 is substantially aligned with the shaft 114, the sleeve 274 may be slid outward along the shaft section 272 to insert the cross-pin 276 into the s'lot of the collar 270 as shown. When so adjusted, a set screw 278 which is threaded through the sleeve 274 may be tightened against the shaft section 272 to retain the parts in the driving and driven relationship shown in Fig. 8. The joint formed by the parts described, besides being capable of ready separation and reconnection constitute the universal joint. The shaft section 272 is connected through a further universal joint 280 with a further section 282 of the shaft 210. The latter section is mounted in the frame members 204 and 206 and has the drive pulley 212 of the conveyor belt 214 made fast upon it.

While the universal joints obviate the need for extreme accuracy, it is evident that the shaft section 272 must be brought into substantial alignment with the shaft 114 in order for the desired driving relationship be established. It is desirable, moreover, that substantial alignment be brought about mechanically by the mere swinging of the bridge device 44 from inoperative to operative position.

The first of these objectives is attained by pivvotally mounting the frame carrying brackets 194 and 196 on the pins 198 are carried by the bell cranks 190 and 192. Each of the brackets 194 and 196 carries an abutment pin 284 which is engaged at opposite sides by screws 286. Each abutment pin 284 extends into a slot 288 formed in the associated Ibell crank, and the screws 286 are threaded through the bell crank into the slots from opposite directions. By adjustment of the screws, the angular reaction of the bridge frame tothe supporting bell cranks may lbe adjusted, and this has the important eect of changing the distance between the shaft 210 and the common axis of the shaft 186 and the pin 188, about which the bridge device is swingable. By thus adjusting the effective radius about which the axis of the shaft 210 swings, the path of the shaft axis can be caused to coincide with the axis of the shaft 114.

In order that substantial alignment of shafts 210 and 114 may be mechanically obtained over and over again, lugs 290 are provided one on each of the frame members 204 and 206, and stop screws 292 are threaded through the lugs 290 in position to engage a fixed plate or table member 294 which forms a iixed part of the envelope making machine. When the screws have been adjusted to arrest the bridge in the position desired, the adjustment of the screws may be fixed by means of lock nuts 296.

Provision is made for assisting the operator in swinging the bridge up to inoperative position, and of means for retaining it in that position. A coil spring 298 (Fig. 7) surrounds the pivot pin 188, having one end anchored in a collar 300 fast on the pin 188 and the other end anchored in the bell crank 192. The spring urges the bridging member in a cloclewise direction (as viewed in Fig. 6), and while it does not fully counterbalance the bridge when the bridge is in its operative position, it does relieve the operator of a very substantial part of the initial load when the bridge is being swung upward. As the bridge moves up toward the vertical position the force of the spring diminishes but the moment exerted by the bridge also diminishes. The bridge linally comes to rest with the frame brackets 194 and 196 bearing against sloping faces 302 of the brackets 180 and 182.

The bracket 180 is formed with an ear 304 through which a headed screw 306 is threaded. The screw is retracted clear of the bell crank 192 when the bridge is in its operative position, Vbut it may be screwed forward to cause its tip to be projected into a recess 363 formed in the outer face of the bell crank 192 when the bridge is swung up to the broken Yline position shown in Fig. 6. This secures the bridge against accidental dislodgrnent from its raised position.

It will be vremembered that the blanks are fed -by the iinal feed couple 40, 42 of the web fed machine at high speed as spaced out individual blanks, but that the blanks are required to be delivered to the envelope making machine in fanned out relation. The feed couple 40, 42 delivers the blanks at the rate of one blank per cycle to the bridge device 44, the consequence being that the blanks are delivered by the bridge device to the conveyor belts 62 at the same frequency of one blank per cycle, and in the same formation, as the :blanks from the stack 48 are delivered when the stack supporting and separating mechanisms are employed. It is obviously essential that the spaced out blanks be rearranged into fanned out relation before they reach the conveyor belts 62. This is done between the feed couple 40, 42 and the slow moving conveyor belt 214 of the bridging device. The belt 214 travels at the same constant speed as the feed belts 62 of the envelope making machine.

The collating mechanism by which the blanks are re arranged into fanned out relation is desirably like the mechanism disclosed and claimed in my pending .application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 501,416, filed April 14, 1955, which issued as Patent No. 2,782,898, for Collating Mechanism. The table 236 and the active stretch of the conveyor -belt 214are 'disposed in a plane below the path in which the vblanks are fed in the blank preparing mechanism. A hold down bar 310 of the web fed mechanism carries a resilient, downturned deecting finger 312 which engages each blank as it emerges from the feed couple 40, 42, and depresses the leading end of the blank toward the .table and on top of the next preceding blank.

Very small diameter rollers 313 bear against the slow moving belt 214 to form a feed bight for feeding the blanks slowly forward as they are discharged by the feed couple 40, 42. Each blank must be released from the bight of the couple 40, 42 a short distance before it becomes engaged in the feed bight formed by the rollers 313 and the belt 214. It is important, therefore, that provision is made for adjusting the rollers 313 toward and from the rollers 40, 42. It is also desirable that the rollers 313 be made adjustable laterally of the belt and also toward and from the belt, so that 'blanks of different lengths and of different thicknesses can be properly handled.

A carrier block 314 is -mountcd with capacity for sliding movement in the direction of blank feeding along the bar 250, and -is secured in adjusted position by a set screw 316. A transverse bar 318 is ixedly carried in the block 314 and extends laterally in opposite directions from the block substantially as far as the 'lateral boundaries of the belt 214. Blocks 320 are slidably mounted on the bar 318 at opposite sides of the bar 25), each being provided with a set screw for retaining' it in adjusted position. Each block 320 carries a rigid arm or -bracket 322 upon which a lever 324 is pivotally mounted. One of the rollers 313 is rotatively carried at the lower .end of each lever 324. A tension coil spring 326, vconnected at one end -to the block '320 and at the other end to the tail of the associated lever 324,

urges the roller 313 downward against the band of envelopes on the conveyor belt 214. A stop screw 328 is threaded through the block 320 into position to obstruct approach of the tail of `the lever 324 toward the block 320, and is `adjusted to maintain the roller 313 normally at a desired distance from the conveyor belt 214. A lock nut 330 is provided on the screw 328. Each lever 324 has afixed to it an inclined hold-down bar 329 for guiding the associated part of the leading edge of each blank into the slow feeding bight 214--313.

in order that there may be no interruption of feeding of the blank as it is released by the couple 40, 42 and before it'has been gripped by the couple 214- 313, and particularly to assure that the trailing edge of each blank will be permitted to drop down clear of the following blank before it is overtaken by the leading edge of the following blank, provision is made of a fast running frictional feed wheel 332. The wheel 332 has rubber ns or paddles 334 and runs `constantly at a peripheral speed greater than that of the feed roller 40. The wheel 332 is fast upon a shaft 336, which shaft is rotatively carried in the lower end of a bearing lever 33S. The lever 338 is rockably supported on a pivot pin 349, which pin is carried by a block 342. The block 342 is mountedron the bar 250 with capacity for sliding adjustment along the bar. A set screw 344 is provided for securing the block in adjusted position on the bar. A headed screw 346, threaded through an ear 348 of the block 342 bears against the tail of the lever 338 and serves adjustably to 'limit approach of the wheel 332 toward the belt 214.

The rollers 268 are idler rollers which are frictionally driven bythe ,envelope blanks on the conveyor belt 214. The wheel 3.32, however, requires to be driven in various adjusted positions. The shaft 176 of the roller 40 has fast upon it a gear 350 (Figs. 6 and 7) which drives a gear 352, fast on the shaft 186. The shaft 186 also has fast .upon it a pulley 354. A belt 356 driven by the pulley 354 is trained to run upon, and to drive, pulleys 358 and 360 which are carried on the frame bracket 194. The pulley 358 is a mere guide pulley, .but the pulley 360, which turns in a clockwise direction (as seen lin Fig. 6), is the driver for the wheel 332. The pulley 360 is fast upon a shaft 363 which is connected through a universal joint 364 to a sleeve 366. The sleeve 3.66 has telescopic and keyed connections with a shaft section 368, and the section 368 is connected through a universal joint with the shaft 336 upon which the wheel 332 is made fast.

The operation of the machine has been made clear in connection with the preceding description. When die cnt blanks are to be manufactured into plain, unprinted, envelopes the bridge device 94 is swung into inoperative position indicated at 44a in Fig. 6 and is locked in that position by the holding screw 306. The stack supporting and separating mechanism is then put in place in the envelope making machine, and die cut blanks are fed to the machine from a stack 48 in the usual manner. When the web fed attachment is to be utilized the stack supporting and separatingmechanism is removed, the bridge device 44 is swung down to `its active position as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 6, the shaft 210 is connected for operation from the shaft 114, and the sprocket .150 is drivingly connected to the shaft 152 by manipulation of the clutch screw 158. Blanks are then cut from a web, notched, corner trimmed and fed to the envelope making machine at the same frequency of one blank per cycle, and in the same fanned out formation vas when the blanks are supplied from the stack.

The same bridging mechanism which has been described maybe utilized -in the manner described but in connection with other blank preparing attachments for rearranging spaced yout blanks linto fanned cut relation and feeding them into a rotary envelope making ma- 9V chine. An example of this in connection a printing attachment is illustrated in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 9 die cut blanks are supported in an inclined stack 400 by means of a platform 402 and rods 404 (one shown). A suction separator roller 406 isr oscillated through a range of about 90 to carry the leading margin of the bottom-most blank forward into the iield of action of a suction feed roller 408 and then to return for a fresh blank. The roller 408 delivers the blank to a printing bed cylinder 410 which, through suction, carries the blank successively past printing cylinders 4i2a and 412b and then delivers the blanks to a second printing 'bed suction cylinder 414. The bed cylinder 414 carries the blank past a printing cylinder 412C. The printing cylinder 412a is provided with conventional ink supply mechanism, diagrammatically indicated by a reservoir 416a, a pick-up roller 41Sa and a transfer roller 42de. The other printing cylinders are provided with similar ink supply mechanisms. The corresponding parts have been designated by corresponding reference numerals but with the letter subscripts adjusted to correspond in each instance with the letter subscript used in the designation of the associated printing cylinder. Each blank is delivered by the cylinder 414 to a suction feed roller 422, with 'which an idler roller 424 cooperates. The blank is then conducted across a table 426 and beneath a holddown bar 3100i to feed rollers 40a, 42a, which correspond to the rollers 40, 42 of Figs. l, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The printing attachment is desirably driven from the envelope making machine through clutch mechanism of the kind shown in Fig. 3 and described in connection with Fig. 3.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. l do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Envelope making equipment comprising, in combination, a rotary, open side envelope making machine having driving mechanism, removable stack supporting and blank separating mechanism at the introductory end of the machine adapted to deliver die cut blanks directly into lapping relation with their bottom aps leading for fan-out seal ap gnmming when plain die cut envelopes are to be produced, a receiving conveyor disposed in position to receive the blanks from the stack and forward them in fanned out relation, and means for thereafter fan-out gumming the seal ilaps of the blanks preparatory to the completion of their manufacture into envelopes, of a blank preparing attachment disposed in proximity to the introductory end of the envelope making machine, comprising means for rapidly advancing blanks in spaced out relation and for operating upon them as they are so advanced, means for driving the blank preparing attachment from the driving mechanism of the envelope making machine in timed relation thereto, so that one blank is delivered by the attachment for each operating cycle of the machine, the attachment including a nal feeding means which delivers the spaced out blanks sequentially at high speed, and a bridge device, including a slow speed conveyor, removably connected to the envelope making machine in position to deliver the blanks in fanned out relation with the bottom flaps leading onto the receiving conveyor of the machine, means for establishing a driving connection from the driving mechanism of the envelope making machine to the conveyor, the conveyor being disposed below the level at which the blanks emerge from the final feeding means of the attachment, and collating means for rearranging the spaced out blanks into fanned out relation as they pass from the attachment to the conveyor.

. 2. Envelope making equipment comprising, in combination, a rotary envelope making machine having driving mechanism, va low speed conveyor adapted to receive blanks and'forward them in fanned outV relation, and means for thereafter fan-out gumming the seal flaps of the blanks preparatory to the completion of their manufacture into envelopes by the machine, of a blank preparing attachment disposed in proximity to the introductory end of the envelope making machine, comprising high speed feeding means for rapidly advancing blanks in spaced out relation and for printing upon the blanks as they are so advanced, a stack support, means for separating blanks from the stack at the rate of one blank per cycle, means for driving the blank preparing attachment from the driving mechanism of the envelope making machine in timed relation thereto, so that one blank is delivered by the attachment for each operating cycle of the envelope making machine, the attachment including a final high speed feeding means Which delivers the spaced out blanks sequentially at high speed, and a bridge device movable into and out of operative position between the attachment and the envelope making machine, including a low speed conveyor, connected to the envelope making machine in position to deliver blanks onto the low speed conveyor thereof and driven from the envelope making machine at the same speed as said low speed conveyor, the conveyor having its introductory end disposed below the level at which the blanks emerge from final fast feeding means of the attachment, and collating means for rearranging the spaced out blanks into overlapping relation preparatory to fan-out gumming as they pass from the attachment to the conveyor.

3. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope mak-` ing machine comprising, in combination, mechanism for operating on spaced blanks and for delivering them in spaced out relation at high speed, a bridge device pivotally mounted for swinging movement between a raised, non-operating position and a lowered operating position, said bridge device comprising a slow moving conveyor adapted when the bridge device is in operating position to deliver envelope blanks into the introductory end of an envelope making machine in fanned out relation, and means for rearranging the blanks from spaced out into fanned out relation as they are delivered onto the bridge device.

4. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 which includes provision for driving the attachment from, and in time with, the operating mechanism of the envelope making machine.

5. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 which includes drive mechanism for operating the attachment generally from the operating mechanism of the envelope making machine, comprising a general driving train which includes a clutch that may be made active and inactive at will, a drive shaft for the bridge conveyor at the delivery end thereof, and means for securing said shaft in driven relation to an output shaft of the envelope making machine.

6. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 which includes drive mechanism for operating the attachment generally from the operating mechanism of the envelope making machine, comprising a general driving train which includes a clutch that may be made active and inactive at will, a drive shaft for the bridge conveyor at the delivery end thereof, and means for securing said shaft in driven relation to an output shaft of the envelope making machine, the bridge device including pivoted supporting arms about Whose, pivotal axis the frame is swingable, a conveyor carrying frame pivotally mounted thereon, and means for adjusting the position of the frame relative to said arms to change the distancebetween the pivotal axis ofthe supporting arms and the axis of the drive shaft for the bridge conveyor.

7. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 which includes drive mechanism for operating the attachment generally fromv the operating Vmechanism of the envelope making machine, comprising ageneral driving train which includes a clutch that Amay be made active and inactive at will, a drive shaftfor the vbridge conveyor at the delivery end thereof, and means for securing said shaft in driven relation to an output shaft of the envelope making machine, the bridge device including pivoted supporting arms about whose pivotal axis the frame is swingable, a conveyor carrying frame pivotally mounted thereon, means for adjusting the position of the frame relative to said arms to change the distance between the pivotal axis of the supporting arms and the axis of the drive shaft for the bridge conveyor, and an adjustable stop on the bridge frame engageable with a fixed part of the envelope making machine and settable to arrest the drive shaft of the bridge conveyor substantially in alignment with the output shaft of the envelope making machine.

8. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 which includes provision for driving the attachment from, and in time with, the operating mechanism of the envelope making machine, the bridge device including a drive shaft for the bridge conveyor at the delivery end thereof, means for mechanically locating said shaft in a predetermined position, substantially in alignment with an output shaft of the envelope making machine, and separable clutch means including a clutch sleeve slidably mounted on the bridge conveyor drive shaft for movement into and out of Vposition to surround and interlock with said output shaft, and holding means for xing the sleeve in engaged or disengaged condition.

9. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 in which collating means is provided for rearranging the blanks into fanned out relation as they pass from the high speed delivering means to the slow moving bridge conveyor, said means including idler rollers opposed to the slow speed conveyor to form with the conveyor a slow feeding bight, means adjustably supporting said rollers so that they may be located a definite amount more than a blank length away from the point at which the blank is released by the high speed delivering means, an irnpositively acting feed Wheel disposed opposite the low speed conveyor for continuing the high speed advance of each blank until the blank has entered the grip of the slow speed feed bight, and means for driving the wheel at high speed.

l0. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 in which collating means is provided for rearranging the blanks into fanned out relation as they pass from the high speed delivering means to the slow moving bridge conveyor, said means including idler rollers opposed to the slow speed conveyor to form with the conveyor a slow feeding bight, means adjustably supporting said rollers so that they may be located a definite amount more than a blank length away from the point at which the blank is released by the high speed delivering means, an impositively acting feed Wheel disposed opposite the low speed conveyor for continuing the high speed advance of each blank until the blank has entered the grip of the slow speed feed bight, means supporting the wheel over the slow speed conveyor with capacity for adjustment lengthwise of the bridge device, and driving mechanism for the Wheel comprising a shaft mounted on the bridge device in fixed relation thereto, and a flexible driving connection from said shaft to the wheel.

ll. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 in which collating means is provided for-rearranging the blanks into fanned out relation as they 'pass from the high speed delivering means to the slow moving bridge conveyor, said means including idler rollers opposed to the slow speed conveyor to form with theconveyor a slow-feeding bight, means adjustably supporting said rollers so that they may be located a definite amount more than a blank length away from the point at which the blank is released by the high speed delivering means, an impositively acting feed wheel disposed opposite the low speed conveyor-for continuing the high speed advance of each'fblank until the blank' has entered Vthe ygrip of the slow speed feed bight, and means for driving the wheel at high speed, comprising a bodily xed rotary driving member coaxial with the pivot about which the bridge device is swingable, and gearing operatively connecting said driving member in driving relation to the Wheel.

l2. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as set forth in claim 3 which includes provision for driving the attachment from, and in time with, the operating mechanism of the envelope making machine, said attachment including printing mechanism, a stack support, and means for feeding individualized blanks from a stack to the printing mechanism at the rate of one blank per cycle of the envelope Amaking machine.

13. A blank preparing attachment for an envelope making machine as setforth in claim 3 Which includes provision for driving the attachment from, and in time with, the operating mechanism of the envelope making machine, said attachment being designed to `cut diamond shaped blanks from a traveling-web and to form them into notched blanks suitable for conversion into envelopes by the envelope making machine, said attachment including a iiying cutter which comprises a fixed knife and a rotary knife, and means for driving the rotary knife-of the ying cutter at the rate of one revolution foreach complete cycle of the envelope making machine.

14. Envelope making equipment comprising, in combination, a rotary, open side envelope making machine having driving mechanism, stack supporting and blank separating mechanism at the introductory end of the machine adapted to deliver die cut, open side envelope blanks, directly into lapping relation, With their bottom flaps leading, for fan-out gumming of the seal flaps when plain die cut envelopes are to be produced, a receiving conveyor disposed in position to receive the blanks from the stack and forward them in fanned out relation, and means for thereafter fan-out gumming the seal iiaps of the blanks preparatory to the completion of their manufacture into envelopes, of a blank preparing attachment disposed in proximity to the introductory end of the envelope making machine, comprising means for rapidly advancing open side blanks in spaced out relation and for operating upon them as they are so advanced, means for driving the blank preparing attachment from the driving mechanism of the envelope making machine in timed relation thereto, so that one blank is delivered by the attachment for each operating cycle of the machine, the attachment including a final feeding means which delivers the spaced out blanks sequentially at high speed, and a bridge device, including a slow speed conveyor, removably connected to the envelope making machine in position to deliver the blanks in fanned out relation with the bottom flaps leading onto the receiving conveyor of the machine, as a substitute for the delivery of blanks by the supporting and separating mechanism, means for establishing a driving connection from the driving mechanism of the envelope making machine to the conveyor, the introductory end of the conveyor being disposed below the level at which the blanks emerge from the final feeding means of the attachment, and collatng means for rearranging the spaced out blanks into fanned out relation as they pass from the attachment to the conveyor.

l5. Envelope making equipment having means for alternative blank stack feeding and continuous blank fecding from previous blank advancing mechanism comprising, in combination, a rotary envelope making machine having driving mechanism, a low speed conveyor adapted to receive blanks and forward them in fanned out rclation, and means for thereafter fan-out gumming the seal iiaps of the blanks preparatory to the completion of their manufacture into envelopes by the machine, of a blank preparing attachment disposed in'proximity to the introductory end of the envelope making machine, comprising high speed feeding means for rapidly advancing blanks in spaced out relation, a stack support, means for separating blanks from the stack at the rate of one blank per cycle, means for driving the blank preparing attachment from the driving mechanism of the envelope making machine in timed relation thereto, so that one blank is delivered by the attachment for each operating cycle of the envelope making machine, the attachment including a nal high speed feeding means which delivers the spaced out blanks sequentially at high speed, and a bridge device between the attachment and the envelope making machine, including a low speed conveyor, connected to the envelope making machine, in position to deliver blanks onto the low speed conveyor thereof and driven from the envelope making machine at the same speed as said low speed conveyor, the conveyor having its introductory end disposed below the level at which the blanks emerge from the final fast feeding means of the attachment, and collating means for rearranging the spaced out blanks into overlapping relation preparatory to fan-out gumming as they pass from the attachment to the conveyor, said final fast feeding means being constructed and iarranged to apply high speed propelling force continuously to each blank substantial-ly to the point at which it enters the grip of the low speed conveyor of the said bridge device.

16. An envelope making machine comprising means for feeding pre-cut envelope blanks from a stack into spaced-out relation and for rapidly advancing the blanks in such relation, a collating device for gathering the spaced-out blanks into an overlapping band, and a fan- 14 out gummei for gumming the exposed edges of the overlapping band, said collating device including 'a slow feeding means and a relatively fast feeding means for advancing each of the blanks over the preceding blanks which are already in the feed bight of the slow feeding means, said fast feeding means being constructed and disposed to thrust each blank into the bight of the slow feeding means without any interruption of blank control, to maintai-n the trailing margin of each blank under control and at -an elevation above the feed plane of the slow feeding means until after the leading edge of the blank has reached that plane, and to release the trailing edge of the blank for gravity descent before its trailing edge has been overtaken by the leading edge of the next following blank, the final element of the fast feeding means consisting of an impositive feeding means disposed to Eact in a narrow intermediate zone of blank feeding, and the slow feeding means comprising narrow feed rolls disposed in tnansverse alignment at opposite sides of said intermediate feed zone and widely spaced from such intermediate feed zone, the narrow feed rolls being of a diameter comparable with the distance that a blank is fed by them during a machine cycle, and therefore small enough to define sharply the limit of their `feed bight.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,854,217 Novick Apr. 19, 1932 2,102,001 Heywood Dec. 14, 1937 2,113,555 Novick Apr. 5, 1938 2,694,351 Winkler et al Nov. 16, 1954 

